Case Study - Cheryl Lee Group B

(a) What would you reveal to Mrs Kong regarding your professional view about children with Down Syndrome and their future in Singapore? (4 Marks)

Mrs. Kong seems rather at lost and anxious about Nicky’s situation, so I will assure her that Singapore is gradually moving towards to being an inclusive society. The Down Syndrome Association (DSA) helps to create awareness in their recent event, DSA Buddy Walk 2009 to commemorate World Down Syndrome Day 2009 (Down Syndrome Association Singapore, 2009). The Enabling Master Plan 2007 – 2011 recognizes that people with special needs have the capabilities to contribute to society and economy, therefore, it is vital and have the right to receive public education. This support given enables people with special needs to grow and live independently (Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, 2007).

In Singapore’s recognition to have trained individuals to ensure that children with special needs are given appropriate care, Mrs. Kong may apply her domestic helper for the Caregivers Training Grant (CTG). This may alleviate her worry of Nicky while she is at work. Main caregivers of a child with special needs “can receive a subsidy of up to $200 per year to attend pre-approved training courses” (National Council of Social Services, 2008, para. 1).

(b) Given the limited information provided, what would you advise Mrs Kong about:

(i) Enrolling Nicky into the centre's toddler class; and (2 Marks)

As Mrs. Kong seems to be in a predicament of sending Nicky to which type of school, I would advise her to enrol him in our centre for a trial period. His progress will be monitored to check if he has benefited and enjoys being in the centre. To validate Nicky’s progress, I would recommend the trial period to be about four to six months. This provides him time to be accustomed to the centre’s culture and curriculum. I would ensure Mrs. Kong that the curriculum of the class would be adapted for Nicky’s developmental level. And that the curriculum will not only meet Nicky’s needs, but also the other children in the class.

(ii) Nicky's diagnosis of having Down Syndrome. (2 Marks)

The blood test which Nicky went through is pretty accurate as Down syndrome is “caused by chromosomal abnormality” where Chromosome 21 is a triplet rather than the usual pair (Heward, 2009, p.144). I would advise Mrs. Kong to bring Nicky for further assessments as she is concerned with Nicky not having the physical charateristics of an individual with Down syndrome.

(c) What would you disclose to Mrs Kong about special education, special school and inclusive education in Singapore? (6 Marks)

According to Quah (as cited in Lim & Quah, 2004), a research project was ever conducted to evaluate how feasible it is to include children with special needs into mainstream classrooms. The study showed positive effects for the children, both with special need and typically developed children, their parents and teachers. This research may help bring relief to Mrs. Kong to know that Nicky may be able to grow and be included in mainstream schools just like most children.

There are many programmes which assist a child with Down syndrome in a mainstream school. The Integration Facilitation Support Programme (IFSP) is one such example where DSA provides a number of school based consultancy services. Teachers may undergo training to learn specific strategies to help a child with Down syndrome cope and excel academically. Workshops and talks are also conducted in schools to help better understand and ways to work with children with Down syndrome (Down Syndrome Association Singapore, 2009).

‘Developing Social Aptitude’ is a series of workshops in 2008 which will be conducted again, enabling children with Down syndrome to develop their social skills. This is accomplished by providing them with age-appropriate activities that promote social interaction and communication skills (Down Syndrome Association Singapore, 2009). Given the appropriate interventions and education, children with Down syndrome are able to “thrive well into adulthood, into their 50s and beyond, living full and active lives” (BabyCentre UK, 2009, para. 5).

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Reference:

Baby Centre. (2009). What does the future hold for my child? In Down syndrome.

Retrieved August 14, 2009, from

http://www.babycenter.com.sg/baby/health/downssyndrome/

Down Syndrome Association Singapore. (2009). Caregivers Training Grant (CTG) by

NCSS. In Latest. Retrieved August 14, 2009,

from http://downsyndrome-singapore.org/content/view/54/51

Down Syndrome Association Singapore. (2009). DSA buddy walk 2009: Walking

together towards an inclusive community. Retrieved August 14, 2009, from page

2 at http://downsyndrome-

singapore.org/images/wdsd_buddy_walk_2009_post_report_(for_website).pdf

Down Syndrome Association Singapore. (2009). Integration Facilitation Support

Programme(IFSP). In Children services. Retrieved August 14, 2009, from

http://downsyndrome-singapore.org/content/view/18/80/

Down Syndrome Association Singapore. (2009). Social interaction skills support. In

Children services. Retrieved August 14, 2009, from

http://downsyndrome-singapore.org/content/view/18/80/

Heward, W.L. (2009). Exceptional children: An introduction to special education (9^th ed.).

United States of America: Merrill, Pearson Education Inc.

Lim, L. & Quah, M.M. (2004). Educating learners with diverse abilities. Singapore: McGraw-Hill Education (Asia).

Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports. (2007). Enabling Masterplan

2007 – 2011: Sports, volunteerism and philanthropy, and public education.

Retrieved August 14, 2009, from page 8 at http://www.mcys.gov.sg/enablingmasterplan/report/EM_Chapter7.pdf

Cheryl Lee CaiXia Group B